Variations in plant characteristics and soil properties
Shrub encroachment had differential effects on above and below-ground
ecosystem functions of semi-arid alpine steppes (Table S2). The cover of
herbaceous tended to increase following shrub encroachment (Fig. 2a and
Fig. 3). However, the encroachments of both Leguminosae and
Non-Leguminosae shrubs had no significant impacts on plant height,
species richness, above and below-ground biomass of herbaceous species
(Fig. 2b−e and Fig. 3). The SOC, STN, and
NO3−−N contents rather than soil water
content greatly increased following shrub encroachment (Fig. 2f−h and
Fig. 3). The MBC and MBN contents significantly increased after
encroached by non-Leguminosae shrub rather than by Leguminosae shrub
(Fig. 2i−j and Fig. 3). However, the
NH4+−N only significantly enhanced
after Leguminosae shrub encroachment (Fig. 2j).